The Marais des Cygnes River, a tributary of Missouri River, rises in the
Flint Hills of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, and flows generally eastward
through the southern part of Osage County and the middle of Franklin
County. The river then takes a southeasterly course through Miami County
and the northeastern part of Linn County, leaving the state northeast of
Pleasanton. With its tributaries (Dragoon, Salt, Pottawatomie, Bull and
Big Sugar creeks) the river drains 4,360 square miles in Kansas
(Anonymous, 1945:23), comprising the major part of the area between the
watersheds of the Kansas and Neosho rivers. The gradient from the
headwaters to Quenemo is more than five feet per mile, from Quenemo to
Osawatomie 1.53 feet per mile, and from Osawatomie to the State line
1.10 feet per mile (Anonymous, 1945:24). The total length is
approximately 475 miles (150 miles in Kansas). The river flows in a
highly-meandering, well-defined channel that has been entrenched from 50
to 250 feet (Schoewe, 1951:294). "Marais des Cygnes" is of French
origin, signifying "the marsh of the swans."
_Marais des Cygnes River, Upper Station._--One mile south and one mile
west of Pomona, Franklin County, Kansas (Sec. 12, T. 17 S., R. 17 E.)
(Pl. 27, Fig. 1). Width 30 to 40 feet, depth to six feet, length of
study-area one-half mile (three large pools with short connecting
riffles), bottom of mud and bedrock. Mud banks 30 to 40 feet high.
According to P. Lindsey (landowner) this section of the river was
intermittent for most of the drought. Flow was continuous in 1957, 1958
and 1959.
There are four low-head dams between the upper and middle Marais des
Cygnes stations.
_Marais des Cygnes River, Middle Station._--One mile east of Ottawa,
Franklin County, Kansas (Sec. 6, T. 17 S., R. 20 E.) (Pl. 27, Fig. 2).
Width 50 to 60 feet, depth to eight feet, length of study-area one-half
mile (one large pool plus a long riffle interrupted by several small
pools), bottom of mud, gravel, and rock. Mud and sand banks 30 to 40
feet high.
This section of the river was intermittent for much of the drought. In
the winter of 1957-'58 a bridge was constructed over this station as a
part of Interstate Highway 35. Because of this construction many trees
were removed from the stream-banks, the channel was straightened, a
gravel-bottomed riffle was rerouted, and silt was deposited in a
gravel-bottom pool.
_Marais des Cygnes River, Lower Station._--At eastern edge of Marais des
Cygnes Wildlife Refuge, Linn County, Kansas (Sec. 9, T. 21 S., R. 25
E.). Width 80 to 100 feet, depth to eight feet, length of study-area
one-half mile (one large pool plus a long riffle interrupted by several
small pools), bottom of mud, gravel, and rock. Mud banks 40 to 50 feet
high.
This section of the river ceased to flow only briefly in 1956.